https://www.hawkesburygazette.com.au/story/7846819/coral-makes-comeback-on-great-barrier-reef/ [ ] Hawkesbury Gazette Share FacebookTwitterWhatsapp [ ] Hawkesbury Gazette Ad News Home Share FacebookTwitterWhatsapp Hawkesbury Gazette [ ] Home Page News Local NewsCourt and CrimePoliticsPropertyNationalWorldPodcasts Voice of Real Australia Podcast Sport Local SportNational SportCommonwealth Games What's On Things to doTV Guide Community Your NewsBabies, Weddings & ObituariesHistorySend Us Your News Comment Send a Letter to the Editor Life & Style LifeCelebrityShopping Jobs Notices TributesCelebrationsCarsPlace a Job AdPlace an AdReal EstateAg and RuralGarage Sales Recommended FeaturesSpecial PublicationsPartner Content Heartbeat of Australia Quick Links [7631980] Today's Paper [ed59eb1] Voice of Real Australia [27ab4a3] Newsletters [f133f7a] Real Estate View Network [efb4daa] Explore Travel [0069dc5] CareerOne [8e98b87] AgTrader [575d48b] View Insurance [4994485] Beevo Contact usHelp CenterTerms & Conditions - DigitalTerms & Conditions - NewspaperPrivacy PolicyAbout usConditions of Use Coral makes comeback on Great Barrier Reef By Tracey Ferrier Updated August 3 2022 - 2:08pm, first published 2:05pm By Tracey Ferrier Updated August 3 2022 - 2:08pm, first published 2:05pm FacebookTwitterWhatsappEmail Copy [r0_0_800_6] Coral cover in the Great Barrier Reef is at its highest in 36 years of monitoring, scientists say. (Dan Peled/AAP PHOTOS) Coral cover has bounced back across two thirds of the Great Barrier Reef but scientists say its long-term health remains at risk from climate change. The northern and central sections of the reef have the highest levels of coral cover recorded in 36 years of monitoring by the Australian Institute of Marine Science. Advertisement Ad However coral cover has declined in the southern section, mainly due to ongoing outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish. Dr Mike Emslie leads the agency's long-term monitoring program and says the reef has shown it can still recover if given the chance. He says the increased coral cover from Cape York south to Proserpine is the result of a few years of relative calm. While the reef has suffered negative effects from mass coral bleaching events in 2020 and again this summer, they weren't anywhere near as deadly for coral as the ones in 2016 and 2017. The reef has also benefited from a few years without being battered by cyclones. "Our latest surveys show the Great Barrier Reef is still an amazing place, it's still vibrant, it can still recover if given the chance," Dr Emslie says. Advertisement Ad "But the impacts of climate change are going to progress as we move forward. Is it always going to remain that way is the million dollar question." Dr Emslie warns the resurgence could be short lived with the increase driven by fast-growing Acropora corals that are highly susceptible to bleaching, wave damage associated with cyclones and outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish. "This isn't the first time the Great Barrier Reef has recovered. It's been seen before. The rate of increase has been seen before. But all it takes is another summer of bad bleaching or a cyclone, which we haven't had for a while, and things can change." The latest monitoring report is based on surveys at 87 reefs between August last year and May this year. About half of that work was done before this year's bleaching event. Scientists don't expect widespread coral mortality but also say the full picture won't be known until this time next year, after the next round of surveys. Even if widespread coral deaths don't eventuate the reef will still suffer because heat stress hurts coral growth and reproduction and increases susceptibility to disease. "The fact that we've had four bleaching events in seven years ... we're kind of in uncharted waters now. We've never had this frequency of bleaching." The survey report estimates hard coral cover in the northern section of the reef, from Cape York to Cooktown, is sitting at 36 per cent. That's the highest level recorded in the monitoring program's 36-year history and a major turnaround from the most recent low of 13 per cent in 2017. In the central section of the reef from Cooktown to Proserpine hard coral cover is estimated at 33 per cent, also the highest on record and up from 14 per cent in 2019. But the situation is different in the southern section of the reef from Proserpine to Gladstone, where estimated coral cover is at 34 per cent, down four per cent on last year due to outbreaks of the coral-munching crown-of-thorns starfish. Advertisement Ad Australian Associated Press Share FacebookTwitterWhatsappEmail Copy Advertisement Ad Local News Help 'local hero' Jodie win $20k for Pink Finss charity On track: Jodie Amor, Pink Finss founder, pictured in 2020 when she ran 10 kilometres every day for 10 days to raise money for her charity. Picture: Geoff Jones Local schools encouraged to sign-up for PM's Spelling Bee GET INVOLVED: Hawkesbury schools have been encouraged to participate in the 2022 Prime Minister's Spelling Bee. Picture: Marina Neil. Soccer club plays for pancreatic cancer funds in memory of local dad [r181_131_6] St Joseph's Primary Schofields pupils celebrate new facility St Joseph's Primary Schofields pupils celebrate the opening of the school's new main building. Picture: Supplied Local News Help 'local hero' Jodie win $20k for Pink Finss charity On track: Jodie Amor, Pink Finss founder, pictured in 2020 when she ran 10 kilometres every day for 10 days to raise money for her charity. Picture: Geoff Jones Local schools encouraged to sign-up for PM's Spelling Bee GET INVOLVED: Hawkesbury schools have been encouraged to participate in the 2022 Prime Minister's Spelling Bee. Picture: Marina Neil. Soccer club plays for pancreatic cancer funds in memory of local dad [r181_131_6] St Joseph's Primary Schofields pupils celebrate new facility St Joseph's Primary Schofields pupils celebrate the opening of the school's new main building. Picture: Supplied Templeman successfully nominates Speaker for 47th Parliament Nominated: Bendigo MP, Lisa Chesters (left), and Macquarie MP, Susan Templeman (right), drag the new Speaker, Oxley MP, Milton Dick, to the chair on July 26. Picture: Auspic. Local News Help 'local hero' Jodie win $20k for Pink Finss charity On track: Jodie Amor, Pink Finss founder, pictured in 2020 when she ran 10 kilometres every day for 10 days to raise money for her charity. Picture: Geoff Jones Local schools encouraged to sign-up for PM's Spelling Bee GET INVOLVED: Hawkesbury schools have been encouraged to participate in the 2022 Prime Minister's Spelling Bee. Picture: Marina Neil. Soccer club plays for pancreatic cancer funds in memory of local dad [r181_131_6] St Joseph's Primary Schofields pupils celebrate new facility St Joseph's Primary Schofields pupils celebrate the opening of the school's new main building. Picture: Supplied Templeman successfully nominates Speaker for 47th Parliament Nominated: Bendigo MP, Lisa Chesters (left), and Macquarie MP, Susan Templeman (right), drag the new Speaker, Oxley MP, Milton Dick, to the chair on July 26. Picture: Auspic. Unites States air force to conduct training out of Richmond A United States Air Force 353rd Special Operations Group MC-130J Commando II lifts off from the RAAF Base Richmond runway during Exercise Teak Action 21. Picture: CPL David Said Local News Help 'local hero' Jodie win $20k for Pink Finss charity On track: Jodie Amor, Pink Finss founder, pictured in 2020 when she ran 10 kilometres every day for 10 days to raise money for her charity. Picture: Geoff Jones Local schools encouraged to sign-up for PM's Spelling Bee GET INVOLVED: Hawkesbury schools have been encouraged to participate in the 2022 Prime Minister's Spelling Bee. Picture: Marina Neil. Soccer club plays for pancreatic cancer funds in memory of local dad [r181_131_6] St Joseph's Primary Schofields pupils celebrate new facility St Joseph's Primary Schofields pupils celebrate the opening of the school's new main building. Picture: Supplied Templeman successfully nominates Speaker for 47th Parliament Nominated: Bendigo MP, Lisa Chesters (left), and Macquarie MP, Susan Templeman (right), drag the new Speaker, Oxley MP, Milton Dick, to the chair on July 26. Picture: Auspic. Unites States air force to conduct training out of Richmond A United States Air Force 353rd Special Operations Group MC-130J Commando II lifts off from the RAAF Base Richmond runway during Exercise Teak Action 21. Picture: CPL David Said Get the latest Richmond news in your inbox Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. Email address[ ]Notify me We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy. 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